HARRISBURG - There appears to be some confusion when it comes to water conservation.

A new
survey finds many people underestimate how much water they use in various daily
activities.

Study
author Shahzeen Attari, assistant professor at Indiana University-Bloomington's
School of Public and Environmental Affairs, says most people believe curtailing
their use is the best strategy to save water - but efficiency measures are more
effective.

She
says water is an essential but neglected resource and people need a better
understanding of how to save it.

"We've
experienced drought in the past two years and we need to know what actions are
really impactful when it comes to decreasing our water use," she stresses.
"That would be important, especially in a short-term or long-term
drought."

The
survey found men and older people, and those who have a good understanding of
numerical concepts, were more likely to have an accurate perception of water
use.

But
Attari says most people have no idea of, for instance, how much water is needed
to produce everyday foods.

"A
lot of water actually went into growing the coffee beans that went into making
my coffee," she points out.

"So
how is it that people will adapt to the drought and climate change if we have
no understanding about how much water goes into making our food?"

Attari
says the goal of the survey was to correct perceptions, and encourage people to
adopt more effective efficiency measures to save water at home.

"If
you have the money, install a low-flow flush toilet, install a water-efficient
clothes washer," she says. "If you can, try to reduce the amount of
time you spend in the shower. Only wash a full load of clothes, and then try to
think about reducing the number of times you flush a toilet."

The
research appears in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

According
to the survey, a large percentage of people cited taking shorter showers, which
Attari says does save water but may not be the most effective action.

Very
few participants cited replacing toilets or flushing less, even though toilets
use the greatest daily water volume.